Unit water heater



UNIT WATER HEATER 'Filed Aug. 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheefl INVENTOR gala/144i J.

v ATTORNEY June; 21, 1949. as. BAGLEY 2,473,560

UNIT WATER HEATER F iled Aug. 29. 1946 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 I I I8 I y l I I3 i n/ 14 i I l I 4 I l I INVENTOR 5M 1 mm ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIT WATER HEATER Edward S. Bagley, New Orleans, La.

Application August 29, 1946, Serial No. 693,713

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to unit water heaters. An object of the invention is to provide a decentral ized hot water system in which individual electric heaters are provided for the different places where the use of hot water is desired. The number of such units would, of course, vary according to the number of places where hot water should be provided. For the average small one bath room residence only three units would be required to provide for wash bowl, tub and shower combination, and kitchen sink. Another object is to provide a construction in which the user will not be liable to suffer an electric shock.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another modi fied form.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing wiring connections for three separate heating coils.

Referring first more particularly to the construction shown in Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates a section of a water supply pipe in which 8 is the inlet end and 9 is the outlet end. In this View, I!) designates a primary heating tube, II designates a secondary heating tube, and I2 designates a tertiary heating tube, these tubes being connected with each other in zig-zag manner. The water supply pipe 1 passes centrally through these three tubes. The portions of the pipe I which pass straight through the tubes are covered with electrical insulation l3 around which heating coils such as the coil I4 are wound spaced inwardly from the Walls of the tubes. It will be understood as a matter of course that the tubes may be provided with heat insulation l3.

A four way switch I5 having three contact points is provided in proximity to the receptacle or place to which hot water is to be supplied. The first contact point of the switch is connected by a wire IS with the heating coil which is in the tube [0. The second contact point is connected by a wire I! with the heating coil which is in the tube I I. The third contact point is connected by a wire it with the heating coil which is in the tube l2. It will, of course, be understood that when the switch I5 is in off or neutral position, no heat will be supplied to the water supply pipe I and this pipe serves as a cold water pipe. When this switch is on contact i, only the coil in the tube I0 is heated; when associated with the contacts I and 2, the coils in the tubes Ill and II will be heated; and when placed in association with contacts l, 2, and 3 the coils in the tubes H], H and I2 will be heated. Provision is thus made for low, medium, and high heat. In the drawing, the pointer associated with the switch is shown registering with contact 2 which indicates that for this position, current is passing through the wires l6 and IT for obtaining medium heating of the water.

The numeral [9 designates an electrical cable containing a Wire 20 connected to and adapted to supply current to the switch it. The coil in the tube [0 is connected to a return wire 2!, the coil in the tube ll is connected to a return wire 22, and the coil in the tube I2 is connected to a return wire 23.

For the purpose of illustrating the installation of this system as a unit heater, Figs. 2 and 3 show it installed in connection with a tub T. The water supply pipe I is shown provided with the customary faucet 24 having no connection whatever with the switch l5. Therefore, a single pipe serves both as a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe thus greatly lessening plumbing costs of installation. It will be understood as a matter of course that the same economical principle exists no matter with what type of receptacle or place the supply pipe is associated.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of construction in which a cylindrical casing 25 is placed around and spaced from the pipe 7. This part of the pipe is covered with electrical insulation l3 and three separate heating coils such as the coil M are wound around this insulation with the coils covered with insulation IS. A switch 15 of the character and installation previously described is provided. The first contact point of the switch is connected by a wire I 6 with the first one of the coils M. The second contact point is connected by a wire I! with the second coil. The third contact point is connected by a wire it! with the third coil. Fig. 6 shows in detail the Wiring connections for the three heating coils.

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the supply pipe I is provided with a single heating coil It which is connected to a rheostat 26 which takes the place of a four-way switch for obtaining different degrees of heat.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent in connection with the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. This system is less expensive to operate than a central heating plant because hot water is ob tained at only the particular place desired and for only the desired time. The heating of the Water is obtained almost instantaneously. There is a saving on the cost of plumbing since one supply pipe serves both as a cold and a hot water pipe. Since there is no electrical connection between the faucet and any part of the electrical circuit, insurance against electric shock is provided.

I claim:

In a water heater for supplying low, medium and high heat interchangeably to water, the combination of a single water supply pipe, three separate heating coils around difierent portions of said pipe respectively, a four way electric switch having three contact points, an electrical cable, a wire in said cable for supplying current to said switch, a wire connecting the first contact with the first coil, a wire connecting the second con- 4 tact with the second coil while th first contact is connected with the first coil, a wire connecting the third contact with the third coil while the first and second contacts are connected with the first and second coils respectively, a return wire leading from the first coil to said cable, a return wire leading from the second coil to said cable, a return wire leading from the third coil to said cable, and a faucet On the delivery end of said supply pipe in non-current relation to said switch.

EDWARD S. BAGLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 696,599 Shoenberg et al Apr. 1, 1902 745,682 Shoenberg Dec. 1, 1903 927,755 Robinson July 13, 1909 1,817,366 Graf Aug. 4, 1931 1,899,839 Von Ruden Feb. 28, 1933 2,037,993 Miller et a1 Apr. 21, 1936 2,307,924 Gillespie Jan. 12, 1943 

